MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 9, 2023

Sam Bennett

Quick Quotes

Q. Quite a week when you just think of everything that happened between the standing ovation. I know you didn't finish how you wanted. But all the records you set, being in the mix of things, playing with Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka, how do you digest this week?

SAM BENNETT: It's good. I'm going to need some time when I get back to decompress and really look back and enjoy it.

I haven't had kids yet, so that walk up 18 was definitely the coolest experience of my life. And the walk up 12.

I didn't play how I wanted to this weekend, but this experience playing the weekend at Augusta is definitely going to help me be the golfer I want to be. And to be able to play the Sunday pins was just incredible.

Q. Better than the video game?

SAM BENNETT: Yeah.

Q. We know you have a tournament coming up, but what takeaways did you make from this weekend?

SAM BENNETT: Just know -- you know, I was tired this weekend. I think that's what it was. My body wasn't moving how it should be. That's why I had the driver slotted the first two rounds, and then my legs kind of gave out. It wasn't turning and started missing them left.

I think I need to get in a little better shape, get in the gym. It was good. It showed, just like at the U.S. Am, I competed with the best and now out here on this stage.

I've seen how the top dogs kind of play and what they're made of, so I think I can hang in with them.

Q. What are they made of?

SAM BENNETT: Just like how they hit it, what they do, just like -- you know, just like golf stuff.

Q. It looked like you were emotional coming off the green there. What were you feeling?

SAM BENNETT: It was just, from growing up as a kid watching this tournament to losing my dad to the struggles I've faced and still face to be able to walk up that green on 18 on a Sunday, Easter Sunday, and just be appreciative of everything, I thought -- I mean, if you had told me I was going to be here when I was a kid, I would have thought you were crazy.

So to be able to -- it's cool. Playing the Masters on Sunday, that's what every golfer dreams of. I was just happy to be able to do that.

Q. You talked about the wear and tear of your body at such a young age, but it was a really difficult last 24 hours. How did you get through it?

SAM BENNETT: I don't know. I went to the physio, and they did me in. It was great. I just hung out with my roommate, my buddies, and ate. We went to Five Guys and ate. We just chilled, nothing crazy.

Q. Dinner of champions, huh?

SAM BENNETT: Yeah. They've been pretty much all over this town.

Q. Are you playing tomorrow?

SAM BENNETT: I don't know yet (laughter). I think I am because I only got -- I mean, this is only my -- I don't got many more college tournaments left. So I'd like to play in my home event.

I came back to school to be with my team and do that, so I think I want to play.

Q. From all the times you've watched the Masters on television and dreamed of playing here, what was the reality like compared to the dream?

SAM BENNETT: It's better than -- that's a good question. It's better than it was on TV for sure. Just the people, the property, the hills, the slopes, the scoreboards, I mean, the food. It was everything I could imagine. I really hope to be back.

Q. Singular moment you can take away from it?

SAM BENNETT: You can't beat the walk up 18. That was good with the crowd cheering me down. And walking up with my coach, who's helped me out a bunch. And then walking off the green to my brother and my mom, that was a really cool moment for us.

Q. Sam, coming into this week, I know you said you wanted to compete for this championship, not just win low amateur. As this final round was coming to a close, it became obvious that you were really trying to contend for getting to the 12th spot or top 12 to come back next year. When did you and your coach kind of start talking about that, or was that the goal coming in? Like on 15, going for it in two?

SAM BENNETT: I mean, that was the goal coming in. I wanted to put up a good round, but I knew if I hung up there in the top 12, it might get me -- I didn't know for sure if it was the same parameters. I didn't know if there was some sort of exemption. But I knew top 12 was there.

We knew, after I bogeyed 12, that I needed -- I think we needed two more birdies. I wanted to make something happen on 15 going forward. Had a good shot there. Just went brain dead on the putt and mis-hit it.

Q. You played this week with Scottie Scheffler, Max Homa, Koepka, Rahm. If Rahm holds on, this will be nine major championships between all the people you played with this week, and you went toe to toe with them every day. I know they have the experience, and the strength and stamina, but is there much you're seeing in their game that isn't in yours quite yet, and can you get there?

SAM BENNETT: No, not really. A little distance. The course played really long for me these past two days with the ball not bouncing, especially when it's cold. So definitely could gain -- I need to gain some weight and get a little more speed. No, I think I do just fine.

Just it was a long week for me, and then mix that in with my spring schedule and getting down here on Saturday. So I just got a little worn out.

Q. Your college tournament, are you going to go back to carrying your own bag?

SAM BENNETT: Yeah.

Q. Push cart?

SAM BENNETT: No, no. This ain't Stanford (laughter).

Q. You made history in a few different ways. You and I talked about this earlier this week about how you already have your name on a trophy that you share with Bobby Jones, but now that you can process the entire week, what does it mean to you to be part of history at the Masters in a few different ways?

SAM BENNETT: That was cool. I learned a lot about Bobby Jones at the amateur dinner, what he's done for the game and what he's done here. How much they love -- I mean, they love amateurs at Augusta. I felt it all week.

Yeah, it's cool to be making history, and hopefully getting down to go on the 18th green and get back in Butler cabin. That's going to be neat. Yeah, I'm just proud of what I did and what I was able to accomplish.